Street-sweeping machine



Oct. 27 1925 J. M. NEUERT STREET SWBBPING MACHINE 5 Shoots-Sheet 1 Jwuemtc r.

Filed Oct. 20, 1924 STREET SWEEPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .L I k i a? I & Jwuenfoc N I kHz/776. Jl eaerf J. M. NEUERT STREET SWEEPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q g; x

N u x 6 Q R Jwoenloc Joi/JZ/l ac/efif Oct. 27 1925 1, 59,278

J. M. NEUERT STREET SWEEPING CHINE Filed on. 20, 1924 5 Shoots-Shut 4 44 A? 38 .9 l I la I n In? 7 nil 45 Q O I J F h 0 o 7 '1 Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

u ewes.

JOHN M. NEUERT, or InbIANAPoLIs, 1 m mm.-

STREET-SWEEPING ivnrcnmn.

"implication filed October 20,.1924. :Serial No. 744,707.

To (All whom z t-may concern:

Be it "known that 1,;JOHN M. NEUERT, a citizen of the United States, residingat Indianapolis, in the county .of =Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain'new and useful Improvementsin a'StreetSWeeping liiachine, of which the following is a specification. L

s This invention-relates to improvements in street sweeping machines and has ;-for its principal-object toprovide a means for, efficiently sweeping-the gutters. @ne of Eithe important ob'ects of the present invention is to providev a street sweeping machine ofrthe above mentione'd character, wherein means is *provided for gathering up therefuse lyingin' the gutters adchtional means being'p-rfovided for cooperatlOll with theaforementioned means whereby the collected refuse'is left in pilessat "spaced intervals in the gutters, thus enablingthe refuse *to %be easily and readily relfiOVQCl fronrthegutters,

A further object ofthe invention is to ,Eprovidea street sweeping machine of 'theabove h'lOIitlOIlGd Cl'l&I";1Ct61,' wherein scraping means'. is arranged forwardly 'of the refuse gathering and pileforming'means for moving the refuse-into the path of thegatherin'g means I 7 .7

A further object .of theinv'ention is to provide a street sweeping machine of the above mentioned character, wherein means-is providedfor rendering the-same inoperative especially -When the machine is turned around and further when not in use 'A still further object is-toprovide 'a street sweeping machine of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable-and furthermore adapted forthe pnrposes for which it is designated. F

Other-objects and advantages of this in vention will become apparent during the course of the following. description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specificatioirand invvhich'like numerals designate like" parts throughoutthe sa ine: s

Figure 1 is a top-plan view of thestreet sweeping machine embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a 'bottorn' plan View thereof. FFigure 3"is a side elevation.

Figure 4 is 'a sectional view taken approximately on rline le i of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is -.a sectional. View taken approximately on line 5 5 of Figure 1 :Figure 6 is an enlarged detail side eleva- "tionof the rear end of the auxiliaryframe showing the rear brush in an inoperative position.

Figure is a detail perspective View of I the gutter scraper, and

F "Figu-re 8 is a: sectional view taken-approxt mately on line 88 of Figure 5.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the main frame of my improved street sweeping machine, (the forward end fthereof' being supported on 'the 'front'wheels 2 and the rear end on the rear wheels 3 whereby the vmachine is rendered portable.

The :machine is adapted to be attached to therear-of a tractoror'the like (not'shown) when in operation.

forward ends :to the respective sides -of the mainf-fram'e l adjacent the rear endthereof as indicated at 7'and 8 respectively in the drawings. "An angleiron cross bar 9 extends (transversely acrosszthe outer endsof the sidezmembersfi and'6.

T-he tBnClS.Ofitll6 cross bar 9 extend theyond-the rearen'ds of the side members 5 and 6 and provide .ineans'for supporting the rear ends of the-brackets 10 and l'l respectively,;the%latter beingsecured at their forwarden'ds'tozthe side'mernbers 5and 6 and being arranged in spaced-relat1onsthetetoin the manner more clearly illustratedzin-Fig- .ure 1. Thebracket 11 is of greater. length than thebracket 10 as is also zclear-lydllustrated in Figures 1 and 20f the drawings. Secured at their upper edges toitheouter sides of thebraclrets 10 and llre spectively are the inetallic platesl2 and 13respectivelyj i ijsimilar'metallic plate '14 extends transversely across the rear end of the auxiliary 'f-rame Amid 1sh1ngedly'=connected =at itsupper edge-to the cross bar 9 in: the man- "ner as iliustratedvat 15. Supported :on the An auxiliary frame. designatedgenerally. by the numeral 4 is inner opposed faces of the side plates 12 and 13 and extending for substantially the full length thereof are the brush heads 16 and 17 respectively, the bristles 18 and 19 extend from the bottoms of the brush heads 16 and 1'? respectively and protrude below the lower edges of the side plates. A similar brush head 20 is disposed on the inner face of the rear plate 14 and the bristles 21 thereof also extend from the bottom of the brush head and protrude below the lower edge of the rear plate 14 for cooperation with the side brushes 13 and 19.

Each of the brush heads is adapted for vertical adjustment on its respective supporting plate by means of the L-shaped brackets 21, a pair of such brackets being associated with each brush head. The shorter arm of each of the brackets is secured to the top of the brush heads as illustrated at- 21' while the longer arm of each of the L-shaped brackets is slotted illustrated at for cooperation with the bolts 4 which extend through each of the plates In this manner the brushes or bristles may be raised or lowered to any desired height. The brushes 18, 19 and 21 respectively cooperate to provide a refuse collecting hopper or chamber 25.

l? or the purpose of normally holding the rear plate 14 and the brush head 20 carried thereby in operative relation with respect to the side brushes, I provide the spring catches 26 on the respective side plates 12 and 13, the heads 27 of the spring catches being in engagement with the angle iron members secured to the respective ends of the rear plates 14 in the manner as clear 1y illui. ted in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The spring catch releasing means comprises a pair of angular levers 29 and 30, the vertical portions of which are supported in the brackets 01 and 32 secured to the side plates 12 and 13 respectively. The lower ends of the vertical portions of the angular levers and are provided with the lateral extensions 33 and 34 respectively, the same being normally disposed between the spring catches and the side plates in parallel spaced relation thereto as is clearly illustrated in the drawings.

The horizontally disposed portions of the angular levers 29 and 30 extend inwardly over the cross bar 9 of the auxiliary frame 4 and are connected at their inner ends to the outer ends of the rods 35 and 36 respectively, the latter extending forwardly across the top of the auxiliary frame and being secured at their forward ends to the outer ends of the crank lever 37 which is journaled in a suitable support provided therefor on the rear portion of the main frame 1 as shown at 38 with reference more particularly to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. An elongated rod 39 is connected at its rear end to the intermediate portion of the crank lever 37 and the forward end of the rod has associated therewith a suitable foot actuated lever 40 which is supported on a suitable platform 41 secured to the top of the main frame 1 adjacent the forward end thereof. It is obvious from the construction above described that when the foot lever 40 is depressed, the angular levers 29 and 30 will have their vertical portions rotated in the supporting brackets provided therefor on the side plates whereby the lateral extensions 33 and 34 will engage the spring catches and cause the heads thereof to be come disengaged from the respective ends of the rear plate 14 in order to permit the upward swinging n'iovement of the rear plate and the brush carried thereby in the manner to be presently described.

The means for raising the rear plate 14 comprises a bifurcated arm 42 which is supported at its lower end on the intermediate portion of the cross bar 9 and extends upwardly therefrom at an incline. A bell crank lever 43 is pivotally supported in the bifurcated end of the arm 42 as illus trated at 44, one end of said bell crank lever being secured to a suitable lug 45 provided on the outer face of the rear plate 14 through the medium of the link 46. The other free end of the bell crank lever 43 is pivotally connected to the rear end of an elongated rod 47 which extends longitudi nally on the auxiliary frame and the main frame and is connected at its forward end to the lower end of a hand lever 48. The hand lever 48 is pivotally supported adjacent its lower end on the bolt 49 which extends transversely through suitable registering openings provided in the upper ends of a pair of spaced brackets 50 and 51 respectively. These brackets are also secured to the platform 41 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

A pair of longitudinally extending angle irons 52 and 53 respectively are arranged between the sides of the main frame 1 and the rear ends of these longitudinal angle irons extend beyond the rear end of the main frame. A crank lever 54 is journaled across the top of the rear ends of theseangle irons and the free ends of the arms 55 and 56 of the crank lever 54 are pivotally secured to suitable lugs 57 and 58 which extend upwardly from the angle iron cross bar 59 which extends transversely across the side men'ibers 5 and 6 of the auxiliary frame 4 forwardly of the aforementioned cross bar 9.

An arm 60 extends upwardly from the intermediate portion of the crank lever 54, the upper end thereof is provided with an enlarged eye through which extends the rear end of an elongated rod 61. A cotter pin 62 extends through a suitable opening provided in the rear end of the rod 61 on one side of the apertured arm 60 and a similar "ma ma cotter pin 63 [extends through a suitable opening :provided in the intermediate portion of the rod'at a' point adjacent theupper end of the arm 62. A coil spring 6 1 enr circles the rod 61 and is disposed between the arm 62 and'thecotter'pin 63 in the manner clearly illustrated inFigure 1 of the drawings. I

The forward 'end'o'f the elongatedrodfil is pivotally connected to the lower end of a suitable hand lever '65 which is also pivotally supported adj ac'ent its lower end on the bolt49. For the purpose of holding a hand lever 65 in any desired position so that the auxiliary frame l may be held in inoperative position at any desired angle, I provide the upper edgeo f the supporting bracket with the segmental teeth 66, a suitable pawl 67 carriedby the lever'being adapted for cooperation with'the'teeth 66. An auxiliary lever '68 is associated with the upper free end 'of the hand lever 65 and provides a means for controlling the engagement of the pawl 67 with respect'to the teeth-66.

Pivotally supported attheir forward ends on the intermediate portions ofwthe iangle irons*52 and 53 are the arms6 9 and 70 re- 's'pectively. The. rear; ends 'of the arms are curved downwardly andsupport thereon the scraper 71, the latter being disposed 'substantially transversely with respect tothe main frame 1 and being furtherlocated =forwardly of the refuse collecting hop'per 25.

A blade 72'is secured'to the -'lower edge'of' the scraper 71 for engagement with @the surface of the ground over which the machine travels and the purpose of this scraper is to provide "a means whereby the refuse "lying'in'the street adjacent the curb ior gutter 'ina'y be moved into the :path of the brushes forming the refuse receiving -Hangers' '7 3 and 74: are provided for the intermediate portions of 'the 'arms 69 and 70 and-are secured at their upper nds 'to'the longitudinal angleirons 52"and 5'3 and the adjacent :portions of the sides off-the main frame '1. a Z

The scraper 71 *isadapted to'be raised to an inoperative positio'nthrough the medium of a dink 75 'whichi s secured at its'lower end to the scraper-and at its upper end to one end of a suitable bell crank, lever 7 6 which is pivoted at 77 on the main frame. A rod 78 is secured "at its rear end to'the 'other free end of the bell crank lever and extends forwardly on the main frame, the same being secured at its forward end to the'lower end'of a hand lever 79 which=is also pivot- 'ally supported on the platform 4'1. A segmental rack 80 is arranged on the platform '41 for cooperation with thezp'awl'81 which is "associated with 'the hand lever 7 9 and'an auxiliary handle '82 'is provided for "dise'nhopper.

Carried by the rear faceof the scraper 83 are a pair of vertically extending T-shaped members 85, the same being adapted for slidableengagementwith the guides 86 :provided therefor on the scraper supportinggplate 87 whereby the scraper 1s --adapted for vertical slidable movement with respectto the plate. 87 in the manner .to be,

presently described. A means for :raismg and lowering the scraper 83 with I respect to'the supportingiplate 87 comprises acranklever 88 which is journaled in suitable bearings provided'therefor ontheplatform 41,the ends of the arms of the crank lever being connected to the'ears 89 formed on the upper edge of the scraper 83adjacent the respective ends'thereof by means of the links 90. An operating lever-91isassociated with the crank lever SS-and'the same-extends upwardly from one end thereof. A segmental rack 91' is mounted on the platform 41 adjacent the lever and cooperating there with is the pawl 92 "which is carried by the lever '90 for holding the latter and the scraper 83 inany desiredadjusted position. An auxiliary handle93 is associated with the upper end of the lever 90 for releasing the pawl 92 from engagement withthe segsupporting plate 87. v

The supporting plate 87 is carricd'by the carriage designated generally by the 11111- meral Mthrough'the medium'of the depending arms 95. Thecarriage 9 i's adapted for lateral sliding movement 'withrespecttothe mainframe "for moving the supporting plate and the scraper 83 carried thereby laterally-and to this end, the carriage includes the angle irons 96 and97 and the substan- 'ti'ally T-shaped member 98 which is disposed intermediate the angle irons 96-and 97 and is secured in parallel spaced relation thereto by'the cross strips99; The angle irons 96 and 97 are'adapte'd for slidable movement 'on th'e transversely extending angle irons 100 and =101'respectively, the latter-extending transversely across the bottom'of the intern'rediate portion of the main frame 1.

The T-shaped member98-is adaptedfor slidable movement in the guide members 102 and 103 which are secured at 'their ends'to cross strip 105 -"which extends transversely I acrossthe'angle irons 100 and 101. a

The angle irons 96rand 97-and the F- "shaped member'98 are adapted to movein unison 'andthis is accomplished "by (having the inner end of the T-shaped'membr98 extending beyfond the 'inner end-s 0ft the i angle mental teeth- 91 to permittherriising and 31100 lowering-10f the scraper with respect to the llO irons 96 and 97 and being connected thereto by the fastening members 105, the latter converging and terminating in an upstanding member 106 which is pivotally connected to one end of a bar 107, the latter extending longitudinally over the carriage and being connected at its other end to the lower end of a hand lever 108. The latter extends through a suitable opening provided therefor in the platform 11 adjacent the side of the main frame and is pivotally supported at 109 between a pair of lugs 110 and 111 se cured to the upper surface of the platform 40-1. By actuating the lever 108, the carriage 9 1 is adapted to move transversely across the bottom of the main frame whereby the supporting plate and the scraper mounted thereon may be moved into and out of engagement with the gutter.

A seat 112 is provided on the platform 4-1 whereby an attendant may have control of the several hand levers and the foot lever for actuating the several parts. with which the same are associated in the manner hereinafter to be more fully described.

The operation of my street sweeping machine may be briefly stated as follows The forward end of the machine is coupled up with the rear end of a tractor or any other vehicle employed for transporting the machine. The brushes are arranged in the manner shown in Figure 2 ofthe drawing and the scraper blades are positioned so as to engage the ground. As the machine moves along adjacent the gutter, the leaves which have {fallen from the trees, as. well as any other refuse will be moved by the scraper blades into the path of the brushes and when the scraper 71 is raised to inoperative position, the refuse will be collected within the hopper 25 formed by the cooperating side brushes 18 and 19 and the rear brush 21. After the hopper has become filled with the refuse. the person occupying the seat 112 on the platform 41 steps on the foot lever -10 causing the spring latches 26 to have the heads on the free ends thereof brought out of engagement with the rear plate 14: and by actuating the hand lever 18, the rear plate and the brush carried thereby is raised to an inoperative position whereby the refuse collected within the chamber 25 will. be left in a pile adjacent the gutter to permit the refuse collecting wagon to come along and gather up the same in a simple and efficient manner.

After the plate 14 and the brush 21 carried thereby have passed over the pile of refuse formed by the side brushes, the same is returned to its normal position with respect to the side plate whereupon a refuse collecting hopper is again formed for receiving and forming a pile of refuse at spaced intervals.

The lateral movement of the scraper 83 has heretofore been fully explained and the purpose thereof is to provide a means where by the scraper may be moved toward or away from the curb. It being further understood that the scraper 83 is disposed slightly at an angle as is clearly illustrated in the drawings.

The provision of a street sweeping machine of the above mentioned character will eliminate the necessity of employing a number of men for cleaning the gutters of refuse as it is only necessary for one person to control the operation of the several parts of the street sweeping machine, and another person for actuating the machine such as the tractor or the like which moves the street sweep ing machine along the surface of the ground. When it becomes necessary to make a turn or further when the street sweeping ma chine is not in operation, the auxiliary frame 4 may be raised to an inoperative position and held therein in the manner heretofore described.

While I have shown the preferred embodimentof my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A street sweeping machine comprising a wheeled main frame, an auxiliary frame hingedly supported on the rear of the main frame, means carried by the auxiliary frame for gathering refuse, said means including side brushes and a rear brush hingedly supported at its upper edge to the rear end of the auxiliary frame, means for raising the rear brush into an inoperative position whereby the refuse collected by the brushes is left in apile, and means for normally locking the rear brush into cooperative relation with the side brushes.

2. A street sweeping machine comprising a wheeled main frame, an auxiliary frame hingedly supported on the rear of the main frame, means carried by the auxiliary frame for gathering refuse, said means including side brushes and arear brush hingedly supported at its upper edge to the rear end of the auxiliary frame, means for raising the rear brush into an inoperative position, whereby the refuse collected by the brushes is left in a pile, means for normally locking the rear brush into cooperative relation with the side brushes, said locking means comprising spring catches carried by the side brushes and engaging the adjacent side edges of the rear brush, and manually controlled means for releasing the catches from locking engagement with the rear brush.

3. In a street sweeping machine comprising in combination, a wheeled frame, a

refuse gathering and pile forming means at thewrear of the frame, a gutter scraper arranged forwardly of said means for moving the refuse in the gutter into the path of the refuse gathering means, a supporting plate for said scraper, a carriage slidable transversely 0n the frame, means for supporting the plate on said carriage in spaced relation thereto, means for actuating the carriage, said scraper being Vertically slid- 10 able on the plate and means for raising and lowering the scraper With respect to the plate and the carriage.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN M. NEUERT. 

